US Air Force,
Dahlgren VA: Test flights of the Navy-built Guardian Griffin unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in May demonstrated a new capability to support U.S. joint forces with missions ranging from convoy escort and port security to combat patrol.
Testing of the armed powered paraglider – conducted on both an Army and a naval installation – also confirmed the aeronautical and systems engineering expertise of junior engineers from Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Dahlgren, Va., who designed, built and tested the UAV.
“Our young scientists and engineers learned that they can directly impact the warfighter through teaming, collaboration and thinking out of the box,” said NSWC Dahlgren Division Commander Capt. Joseph McGettigan.
“Their design, construction and testing of this extraordinary combat UAV could provide our warfighters with significant new capabilities and make a difference in our military's ability to fight, win and come home safely.”
The motivated engineers – all recent college graduates – collaborated in all phases of the UAV's innovative design, development, testing and evaluation. Their proof-of-concept system consisted of a modified commercial powered ultralight paraglider outfitted with optical cameras, laser designator and a simulated machine gun.
“Guardian Griffin UAVs can be launched from trucks, boats, trains, tall structures, ships and aircraft,” said Tom Jean, a Guardian Griffin project mentor who is an NSWC Dahlgren Systems Research and Technology Department engineer.
“There are numerous operational concepts to explore, including organic air support for Riverine forces and air delivery. Drop delivery and control from C-130s would allow Griffins to operate as
